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Theresienstadt environs, 1944 (Courtesy of United States Holocaust Memorial Museum)

Theresienstadt Ghetto and the World of Children

This lesson focuses on the daily life of children in Theresienstadt, a special ghetto created by the Germans in Terezin, Czechoslovakia in November 1941. Although it had the appearance of a town, Theresienstadt served as a temporary stop for Jews on the way to the death camps. Still, a highly developed cultural life existed. Artists, composers, musicians, authors, and scientists were among the residents.

Fifteen thousand children passed through Theresienstadt. Although forbidden to do so, they attended school. They painted pictures, wrote poetry, and otherwise tried to maintain a vestige of normalcy. Sadly, 90 percent of these children perished in death camps with only a few hundred surviving deportations.

Lesson

What was it like to be a young person in Theresienstadt almost 70 years ago? How did students close to your age deal with the harsh reality of the ghetto? By examining photographs, artifacts and writings from a student produced periodical The Kamarad ("Comrade"), you will begin to answer these questions. Please follow the following steps in completing this assignment:

1. READ an overview of Theresienstadt provided by the "No Child's Play" exhibit from Yad Vashem The Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authorityand background on the ghetto. Additional articles and maps about Theresienstadt are available from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
2. CHOOSE a writing from the student produced periodical The Kamarad and a photograph or artifact from the Shoah Resource Center
3. COMPLETE the Theresienstadt Ghetto and the World of Children assignment.

Wiki Pages

• The Resources page of the wiki also provides links to background readings and to a gallery of selected photographs and artifacts.
• The Assignment page of the wiki contains questions that you will answer.